Car-coupling



(No Model.)

. L. VAN CAMP.

, GAR GOUPLING. No. 323,756. Patented Aug. 4, 1885.

' nvenlay: filari.' ,LJ/man Vmfa mj@ UNITED STATES PATENT EETCE.

LYMAN VAN CAMP, OF HOWELL, MICHIGAN.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 323,756, dated August4, 1885.

Application filed June 4, 1885. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, LYMAN VAN CAMP, of Howell, in the county ofLivingston and State of Michigan, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Oar-Couplings; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part 0f thisspecification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in thatclass of car-couplings which are ordinarily termed automatic, or suchthat when in use in coupling or uncoupling there is no necessity of theoperator going between the cars, thereby reducing the liability ofaccident to life or limb to the minimum.

The invention consists in the peculiar construction of the parts, theircombination and operation, as more fully hereinafter described.

Figure l is a perspective showing my improved coupler and devices foroperating the same from the top or from the side of the car. Fig. 2 is acentral cross-section of the same. Fig. 3 is a cross-section at the topof the re- Cesses which hold the cheeks and springs. Fig. 4 is avertical longitudinal central section on the line x x in Fig. 3. Fig. 5shows the cheeks detached and in perspective.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents a draw-head or buffer-head,such asis usually attached at the end of a draw-bar, having the flaringmouth a, usually found in such devices. In each side of the opening forthe admission of the link there are formed recesses, as shown in Figs. 2and 3, to receive the cheeks B and C, having studs b, around which arethe coil-springs D, which force each of the cheeks B and G toward thecommon center, except when they are forced apart by the entering link Estriking the inclined faces c of the cheeks to force them back into therecesses sufficiently to allow the link to enter. Aledge, d,is`formedupon the cheek B, which, when the link is not in place, is projected bymeans of the spring directly under the pinhole e, which passesvertically through the draw-head and furnishes a resting-place for thepin F. A ledge, 7L, is formed upon the cheek C, which,when the link isnot inserted, projects behind the ledge d, and being curved upon itslower front edge or having an inclined face, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5,it confines the link by resting upon its upper surface, so that the linkwill remain level, as shown in Fig. 4.

When the link E is inserted into the drawhead with sufficient force,both its advancing sides strike the cheeks B and C, thereby drivinglaterally the cheek B until its ledge D discloses vthe pin-hole,allowing the pin F to drop, while the impingement of the link againstthe cheek C guides such link centrally to its position, which would notbe the case were not this cheek C used, as the force ofthe spring on thecheek B would have a tendency to throw that end of the link to one side.Y

In order to uncouple, I secure, by means of a set-screw, i, or otherappliances that will allow the same to be removed, a lever, H, securedto the front of the car by one or more clamps,I, and terminating in aproper handle or wheel, J, by means of which the brakeman upon top ofthe car can withdraw the pin F, and thereby release the coupling. If theoperator is upon the ground by the side of the car and desires to'uncouple, he depresses the lever K, which is pivoted at k to the frontof the car and engages with the lever H, so that the operator on theground may uncouple the cars at will.

What I claim as my invention isl. In a car-coupling device, a draw-headhaving cheeks let into recesses formed on veach side of the path of thelink and actuated by springs, one of such cheeks having a ledge to`support the pin, and the other having a cheek which will rest upon theend of the link when the latter is engaged wit-h the pin, substantiallyas and for the purposes do scribed.

2. A car-coupling device consisting of the draw-head A, having recessesformed therein on each side of the path of the link, cheeks B and C,inclosed within said recesses and actuated by springs D, such cheekshaving the ledges d and IL, the pin E, and link F, the

parte being constructed, combined, and operlever K,piv0ted at k, andhaving a forked end ating substantially as and for the purposes toembrace the lever H, substantially as and specified. for the purposesspecified. 3. In a car-muliug of the character de- LYMAN VAN CAMP.

5 scribed, the I slmped leverll, provided with \Vitnesses:

n sleeve adapted to embrace the coupling- H. S. SPRGUIJ, pin, and theset-screw i, Combined with the E. J. SCULLY.

